Vote against tax relief slights middle class

It was great to see the payroll tax cut extended by Congress and the president last week. This valuable tax cut keeps about $1,000 a year in the wallet of the average New York working family, providing an important boost to our local small businesses. It was achieved through an all-too-rare bipartisan compromise that was negotiated in good faith by leaders of both parties. The bill also included valuable measures to aid the unemployed, and to ensure that seniors with Medicare have access to doctors of their choice.

Unfortunately, our local congresswoman, Ann Marie Buerkle, voted against this vital tax relief. There were certainly things in the legislation not to like, including cuts to valuable programs to offset the costs, but ultimately it was a vote for or against tax relief. Buerkle chose to raise taxes on almost every Central New Yorker who has a job.

It is unconscionable that Buerkle would choose to put her ideology ahead of a sensible measure that would help protect the middle class during these challenging economic times. The next time legislation to protect the middle class comes up in Congress, I urge every constituent of Buerkle to contact her office to make sure she makes the right decision. We cannot afford to wait.

Dan Maffei
Democratic candidate for the 25th Congressional District
Syracuse